Saginaw County Michigan Merit Exam scores improve in some districts, drop in others

The Michigan Department of Education released Michigan Merit Exam and ACT scores from March on Monday, July 7.AP Photo/Seth Perlman

SAGINAW COUNTY, MI — Michigan Merit Exam statewide scores are improving, and Saginaw County scores are improved compared to last year's performance by 11th-graders.

The Michigan Department of Education released the 2014 MME results on Monday, July 7.

Each March across Michigan, 11th-graders take a standardized exam that includes the ACT college readiness exam and assessments in math, reading, writing, science and social studies. Scores are sorted into four performance categories: advanced, proficient, partially proficient and not proficient.

Saginaw County high schools saw significant increases and declines in their test scores, depending on the district.

Saginaw High School's proficiency levels dropped in all subjects from last year, while Saginaw Arts & Science Academy, Carrollton and Swan Valley high schools improved in all subjects.

Across the county, 55 percent of Saginaw County students met state standards in reading, up from 49 percent in 2013.

In math, 24 percent of students were proficient in math compared to 23 percent in 2013. In science, 24 percent of students met state standards, up from 21 percent last year.

Students improved by two percentage points in writing, with 45 percent of students achieving proficiency. In social studies, 36 percent of students achieve proficiency, up from 32 percent in 2013.

In the ACT exam, the Saginaw County schools' average composite score was 19 out of a possible 36. Students are tested in math, science, reading and English.

At two of Saginaw School District's high schools, students are having difficulty with math.

Fewer than 1 percent of Saginaw High School students were proficient in math, down from 2 percent in 2013.

Across the state, 23 percent of students achieved proficiency in math.

In science, fewer than 1 percent of Saginaw High School students met state standards. Last year, about 1 percent of students were proficient in science.

The statewide proficiency rate is 28 percent.

Saginaw High School also declined in reading, from 21 percent proficiency in 2013 to 19.7 percent in 2014. About 8.5 percent of the schools' 11th-graders were proficient in writing, down from 16 percent in 2014.

In reading and writing statewide, 59 percent and 51 of Michigan students met state standards, respectively.

The high school also dropped 1 percentage point in social studies proficiency to 6 percent of students meeting state standards.

In social studies, 44 percent of students statewide were proficient.

In the ACT score, Saginaw High School had an average composite score of 14.6.

In two exams, Arthur Hill High School's MME scores also declined. In math, 3.8 percent of students met state standards compared to 5 percent in 2013. Writing proficiency levels dropped from 8 percent in 2013 to 6.6 percent this year.

Arthur Hill juniors improved their reading proficiency from 26 percent in 2013 to 32 percent in 2014. The school now meets 2011 levels in reading proficiency.

Arthur Hill also improved in the science exam, with 5.6 percent of students meeting standards. That's up from 4 percent in 2013.

In the writing portion of the test, 18 percent of students achieved proficiency in 2014, up 1 percentage point from last year.

Arthur Hill High School's average composite ACT score was 15.8 out of a possible 36.

Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy's scores were highest in Saginaw and students made improvements in each of the five exams.

In math, 62.7 percent of juniors were proficient compared to 55 percent the year prior. SASA students had a 12 percent point improvement in science, with 57 students meeting state standards compared to 45 percent the year before.

In reading, 87.5 percent of students met statewide standards, up 5 percentage points from 2013. In writing, 87.5 percent of students were proficient, up from 80 percent in 2013.

The largest increase was 16.8 percentage points in social studies, with 70.8 students meeting state standards.

SASA's composite ACT score was 23.7.

The Saginaw News could not reach Saginaw Superintendent Carlton Jenkins for comment.

Carrollton High School

Carrollton High School improved in each of the five exams from last year's scores.

"We are extremely pleased. The high school has been working really hard on addressing scores," said Superintendent Tim Wilson. "It's a credit to the staff and Principal Shawn Thelen. It's really a team effort in making this happen."

Carrollton High School 11th-graders made gains in the math exam, with 15.7 percent of students meeting state standards compared to 9 percent in 2013.

In reading, 53.7 percent of students were proficient, up 14.7 percentage points from the year before.

In the science exam, 16.7 percent of students were proficient in science compared to 11 percent in 2013.

Carrollton students also showed a jump in the writing exam. This year, 42.6 percent of students were proficient on the exam, up 10.7 percentage points from last year.

In social studies, 27.8 percent of students met state standards, up 1.8 percentage points from last year.

The class of 2015 has a 18.7 ACT composite score, something Wilson said creates opportunities for students.

Most four-year universities will accept students with ACT scores of 18 or higher, he said.

Wilson said he isn't surprised at the improvements because the high school has been doing little things that make a big difference.

For example, the high school teachers are putting more of an emphasis on the ACT exam and talking to students about the importance of the exam.

"We think kids didn't realize how important it was," he said.

Heritage High School

Saginaw Township's Heritage High School students improved their proficiency levels in three of five subjects.

In science, 34 percent of students were proficient, up from 29 percent last year.

Heritage juniors improved their social studies scores by 4 percentage points with 44 percent of students meeting state standards. About 64 percent of students met state reading standards, which is 6 percentage points higher than 2013.

Superintendent Doug Trombley said he's pleased with the high school's gains in science and reading.

"We're pleased, but as with any time you look at scores and you're not completely proficient, you work diligently for continuing progress," he said.

In math, 29 percent of Heritage High School 11th-grade students achieved proficiency, down from 31 percent a year ago.

Writing scores dipped by less than 1 percentage point, with 54 percent of students meeting state standards.

The science improvements stems from the district's emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, Trombley. Heritage High School teachers and students are adapting to Common Core literacy standards, he said.

Trombley said he is concerned with the lack of progress in writing and math.

"We've been doing quite a bit of professional development in writing," he said.

Saginaw Township schools leaders also are looking at increasing interventions for its secondary level students, he said. The district uses response to intervention, a method to support and help students early in their academic struggles.

Trombley said the district has done a good job of putting the response to intervention approach in place at its elementary level, and will start to focus more at White Pine Middle School and Heritage High School.

Heritage High School students earned an average ACT composite score of 20.3.

Freeland High School

Freeland Community School District's scores were up in three subjects and down in two from 2013.

Scores dropped in math and science, with 34.7 percent of students achieving proficiency in both, down from 42 percent and 40 percent, respectively.

In reading, 69 percent of Freeland juniors met state standards, up from 66 percent last year. In the writing exam, 66.9 percent of students achieve proficiency, an improvement of 2 percentage points from 2013.

Students also improved in the social studies exam, with 52 percent meeting state standards, up from 47 percent the year prior.

Cairy said the district doesn't get too high or low based on individual scores and tries to continue upon successes each year.

Freeland High School's composite ACT score was 20.8.

Swan Valley High School

At Swan Valley High School, 11th-grade students improved in all subjects.

"I think overall there's a serious school improvement effort toward college readiness," said Superintendent Mat McRae. "We started it several years ago. It's taking hold."

In math, 34.7 percent of Swan Valley students achieved proficiency, compared to 29 percent the year before.

Students gained 3 percentage points in both reading and writing, with 69 percent of students meeting state reading standards and 66.9 percent meeting writing standards.

In the science exam, 34.7 percent of students were proficient, up from 22 percent in 2013.

Students made the biggest gain in social studies at 17.8 percentage points. This year, 52.8 percent of students were proficient in social studies.

McRae said the district created a new course for 11th-grade students called "Managing my Education." It teaches students test-taking skills and content review, which McRae said has helped students.

Swan Valley Schools is focusing on classroom instruction and aligning the curriculum to ensure teachers are teaching what they need to be, he said.

"We hope to see the scores continue to rise," McRae said.

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